Thanks to their sharp hearing, amazing observation skills, and incredible sense of smell, dogs notice a lot of things humans don’t. They can, for example, sniff out drugs at the airport. There’s even evidence they can smell a coming storm.
So, can dogs sense pregnancy in humans? After all, pregnancy causes many changes in a woman’s body. Some of these changes are obvious, such as the swelling of the stomach. While others are far subtler and remain unseen by people, they’re likely highly visible to canines and other animals with superior senses.
The quick answer is that dogs can sense the changes caused by pregnancy. The question is: do dogs understand what these changes mean?
Keep reading to find out!
How Can Dogs Tell When a Human is Pregnant?
When a woman becomes pregnant, her body undergoes various changes that dogs can perceive. These changes are as follows:
Changes in body odor
Pregnancy causes your body to be flooded with hormones and undergo numerous chemical changes, both of which affect how it smells. While this change in body scent is typically imperceptible to humans, it doesn’t go unnoticed by the dog’s amazing nose.
In addition to our canine friends having around 60 times as many olfactory receptors as humans, they also devote far more brainpower (around 40 times as much as ours) to the sense of smell, allowing them to differentiate between 30,000 and 100,000 odors. In fact, scientists estimate that the canine sense of smell is about 10,000 to 100,000 times more powerful than ours.
With such an incredible nose, dogs can pick up on various changes in body odor caused by different things, such as shifts in body chemistry, increases or decreases in insulin levels, menstruation, and yes, pregnancy. There’s even evidence our fur babies can detect cancer in a person or when a seizure is imminent.
Changes in body shape and movement
In their attempt to learn more about us, dogs pay close attention to our appearance and movements. And because pregnancy drastically alters how you look and move, it causes changes that an animal as observant as a dog can’t ignore.
A dog will therefore recognize a tummy that’s growing larger and larger. They’ll also notice that you get tired more quickly, that you’re having a tougher time rising to your feet, and that you’re taking smaller, more awkward steps instead of the usual big, fast ones. In fact, our furry friends are so attentive that they might realize that a woman is pregnant sooner than her friends and loves ones do.
Changes in emotional states
The aforementioned changes in body chemistry due to pregnancy can significantly affect our emotional states. The resulting mood swings can make you more likely to become irritated or tearful, for example. Of course, these emotions can also influence how we behave and the facial expressions we make – physical changes that dogs notice and link to how you’re feeling.
Our dogs love us, so when your pet sees your slumped posture and senses your sadness, they’ll want to cheer you up. If you’re smiling or laughing because you’re happy, they’ll celebrate with you. It’s for these reasons it’s impossible to hide a pregnancy from a dog.
Changes in routine
Dogs are creatures of habit. They may not be able to read clocks, but they know when it’s time for a meal, a walk, play, or sleep – and they rely on us to make sure we stick to the schedule.
When you become pregnant, the changes your body goes through will force you to adjust your way of life. This can affect your and your dog’s routine. You may not be able to walk them as often as you used to, for instance. Or maybe you’ll resort to having someone else walk them for you. You’ll probably also make changes to the house in preparation for your baby’s arrival.
All of these changes will tell a dog that something’s up, and they’ll investigate to figure out what’s going on.
How Early Can Dogs Sense Pregnancy in Humans?
It’s difficult to know the precise moment a dog senses pregnancy in a human. However, we do know how amazing the dog is when it comes to sensing scents and observing their favorite people. If there’s even a subtle change in your smell, appearance, behavior, mood, and routine, trust that your fur baby will know and take interest.
Whether or not a dog can associate these changes with pregnancy is the more important question. Does a dog understand that your belly swells in size because a baby is growing inside it? Do they realize all the hormonal changes occurring in your body are meant to prepare you for childbirth? It’s impossible to know for sure (at least for now).
How Do Dogs React to Pregnancy in Humans?
How a dog reacts to human pregnancy depends on the dog. After all, dogs, like people, have different personalities, so we can’t expect all of them to behave in the same manner.
However, there are two things to take note of. One is that it’s extremely likely that a dog will show a keen interest in your changes if you’re pregnant, as they’ll want to figure out what’s happening to you. Secondly, according to lots of anecdotal evidence, dogs grow more protective of and affectionate toward their pregnant humans. Perhaps this is because the changes they’ve noticed worry them that you’re unwell.
According to some pet moms, a dog’s demeanor can change within a few weeks of your pregnancy. Not only will they start sniffing your belly but they’ll also become extremely protective. For example, if a dog sees that their pregnant human mom is playing sports or engaging in some other intense physical activity, said dog would bark at their mom and run over to check on her.
Some dogs become exceedingly vigilant, sticking close to their human, watching their surroundings for danger, and behaving in an extremely well-mannered fashion. They may even try to protect you from your friends and loved ones, including your partner.
Other dogs become even clingier than usual. Does your dog cuddle with you occasionally? They’ll never want to leave your side the moment you become pregnant. They may even want to start sleeping on the bed next to you.
Your pet may also want to lay their head on your belly. Some people would say this is your dog listening to your unborn child’s heartbeat. This is certainly possible, given that the canine sense of hearing is more powerful and has better range than ours.
A word of caution
While most dogs react positively to human pregnancy, some behave less favorably.
Some dogs, for example, start acting out. One could start chewing the furniture as well as any new items you’ve purchased for the baby. Another could become uncooperative, peeing inside the house and disobeying other rules. Yet another could become unfriendly toward you, greeting you with a growl or a bark instead of a smile.
It’s possible the changes pregnant humans undergo confuse and overwhelm some dogs, resulting in stress, anxiety, and fear. And a dog that’s experiencing poor mental health can become destructive and aggressive.
If your pregnancy is causing your dog to act in an off-putting manner, we recommend reaching out to an animal behaviorist and/or vet. The former can help undo your dog’s undesirable behaviors, while the latter can prescribe anti-anxiety medication to soothe their nerves. It’s also a good idea to create some distance between the dog and yourself – at least until your pooch learns to behave.
How Can You Ready Your Dog for Your Baby’s Arrival?
If your pregnancy alters your dog’s behavior, these behavioral changes may persist even after your child is born and brought home. This is because your canine friend can sense a coming change but can’t fully comprehend what it means.
Instead of waiting to see how your dog will react to your newborn’s arrival, it’s better to prepare them for the change. This can ensure your pet responds to the baby in a safe and predictable manner. This is particularly important if your pooch has never encountered a baby before.
Check out our quick guide below to learn how to get your dog ready for the arrival of your child.
Introduce your dog to babies
Allow your pet to interact with a toddler or baby. This will let them know what a baby is – a tiny, fragile human that should be treated with the delicateness they deserve. This, in turn, will ensure your pet doesn’t become startled or frightened when you take your own baby home.
Of course, exercise caution when letting your dog approach a baby; stay alert for signs of canine distress, keep your hands tight on the leash, and be prepared to yank that leash backward if your dog shows aggression.
Where would be the best place for your dog to meet a baby? Bring them to a park! This will give them plenty of opportunities to meet not just other dogs but also people – and some of those people are likely going to be babies.
A dog that’s properly introduced to newborns can grow protective of baby family members. Not only that but they’ll also be affectionate and gentle with them.
Be less attentive and affectionate
We don’t mean you should neglect your dog. You should still give them love and attention – just don’t give them 100% like you used to.
Since you’ll be devoting lots of time to your child, you’ll have to get your dog used to you not being emotionally or physically available all the time. The less needy your pooch becomes, the less demanding they’ll grow, and the less likely they’ll act out if you can’t give them what they want.
Teach your dog that it’s not okay to jump
Happy, excited dogs tend to jump up at their owners and place their paws on their chest. If your dog does this to you while your baby is in your arms, it could result in disaster.
Months before your baby’s arrival, train your dog not to jump at you, especially when greeting you at the door. Instill in their mind that only calm behavior is acceptable in your home. If you or your family members don’t know how to train dogs, we encourage you to hire a professional trainer or enroll your pooch in training school.
Also, have your loved ones or friends regularly walk your dog and enjoy activities with them. This will keep your pet physically and mentally stimulated, which can prevent them from behaving in a potentially dangerous fashion when excited.
Keep your dog leashed
If you’re about to give birth, then you likely won’t be home for a while. The moment you come home, your dog will therefore be excited to see you. And if you’re carrying a baby in your arms, that excitement will go through the roof.
To ensure the safety of both your baby and your dog when you arrive home, have someone you trust leash your dog and hold on to said leash firmly. This person shouldn’t release their hold until your dog has calmed down.
Whenever your pet has encounters with your baby, make sure someone is ready to pull your dog back in case they get excited again.
Conclusion
Dogs can sense the changes in a pregnant woman’s appearance, emotions, behaviors, and routines. However, we still don’t know for sure if our canine pals understand that these changes mean another human is growing inside the mother’s body.
Whatever the case may be, these changes can affect how dogs behave toward their pregnant humans. There are many cases of pets becoming more affectionate to and protective of their human moms. Some dogs, however, become aggressive or destructive instead.
To ensure both your baby and dog stay safe, you should prepare your dog for your newborn’s arrival. This entails introducing your pet to babies, training them to be calm around people, keeping them leashed upon your return from the hospital, and getting them used to you showing them less attention and affection.